NPR: Brian Naylorhttp://weku.fm
enObama's First Trip To Kenya As President Is Less About His Roots This Timehttp://weku.fm/post/obamas-first-trip-kenya-president-less-about-his-roots-time
President Obama leaves Thursday night on a trip that will take him back to his father's homeland, while at the same time making him the first sitting president to visit two key East African nations: Kenya and Ethiopia.<p>The president's first stop is Kenya. He will not visit his father's ancestral village, administration officials say, citing security and logistical reasons.Thu, 23 Jul 2015 20:09:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor78168 at http://weku.fmObama's First Trip To Kenya As President Is Less About His Roots This TimeGovernment Extending Federal Benefits To All Married Same-Sex Coupleshttp://weku.fm/post/government-extending-federal-benefits-all-married-same-sex-couples
The government said Thursday it will make federal marriage benefits available to all same-sex couples.<p>The Obama administration had previously extended most federal benefits to married same-sex couples.Thu, 09 Jul 2015 20:17:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77582 at http://weku.fmGovernment Extending Federal Benefits To All Married Same-Sex CouplesOPM: 21.5 Million Social Security Numbers Stolen From Government Computershttp://weku.fm/post/opm-215-million-social-security-numbers-stolen-government-computers
<strong>Updated at 9:40 p.m. ET</strong><p>The U.S.Thu, 09 Jul 2015 20:17:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77587 at http://weku.fmNYSE Says Software Update To Blame For Trading Halthttp://weku.fm/post/nyse-says-software-update-blame-trading-halt
The New York Stock Exchange says a planned software update caused Wednesday's system shutdown that halted trading for more than 3.5 hours.<p>In a statement, the NYSE says its problems began Tuesday night with the rollout of a software release. The exchange says that as customers began connecting after 7 a.m.Thu, 09 Jul 2015 19:01:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77579 at http://weku.fmTrading Resumes On New York Stock Exchangehttp://weku.fm/post/trading-halted-new-york-stock-exchange
<strong>Updated at 3:15 p.m. ET</strong><p>Trading has resumed on the New York Stock Exchange, after computer related problems forced the exchange to suspend trading for more than three and a half hours.<p>The exchange "temporarily halted" trading as of 11:32 a.m. ET; trading resumed at approximately 3:10 p.m. ET.<p>The NYSE released <a href="https://twitter.com/nyse">a series of Tweets</a> in which it said the issue was technical and not due to malicious activity:<p>The FBI offered its assistance to the exchange, but the NYSE said no further action was needed.Wed, 08 Jul 2015 16:33:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77526 at http://weku.fmTrading Resumes On New York Stock ExchangeExcellent: Harry Shearer To Return To 'The Simpsons' Casthttp://weku.fm/post/excellent-harry-shearer-return-simpsons-cast
Big news today from Springfield: The voice of Mr. Burns is returning.Tue, 07 Jul 2015 19:47:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77481 at http://weku.fmObama Administration Aims To Expand Access To Solar Power http://weku.fm/post/obama-administration-aims-expand-access-solar-power
The Obama administration hopes to make solar power more accessible for low- and middle-income Americans. It's announcing a series of moves, including installing more solar energy units in federally subsidized housing, low cost loans for homeowners and a program to help renters.<p>The White House recently pledged that the U.S. would get 20 percent of its total electricity from renewable sources by 2030, about three times what it does now.Tue, 07 Jul 2015 17:37:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77480 at http://weku.fmObama Administration Aims To Expand Access To Solar Power Virginia's Pamunkey Tribe Granted Federal Recognitionhttp://weku.fm/post/virginias-pamunkey-tribe-granted-federal-recognition
The federal government Thursday granted recognition to the Pamunkey Indian tribe of Virginia.Thu, 02 Jul 2015 22:39:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77328 at http://weku.fmBP To Pay $18.7 Billion To Settle Gulf Coast Oil Spill Claimshttp://weku.fm/post/bp-pay-187-billion-settle-gulf-coast-oil-spill-claims
<a href="http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/press/press-releases/bp-to-settle-federal-state-local-deepwater-horizon-claims.html">BP on Thursday announced</a> an $18.7 billion settlement with the U.S. government, five Gulf Coast states and more than 400 local governments.Thu, 02 Jul 2015 14:39:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77296 at http://weku.fmBP To Pay $18.7 Billion To Settle Gulf Coast Oil Spill ClaimsJustice Department Investigating Airlines For Possible Price Collusionhttp://weku.fm/post/justice-department-investigating-airlines-possible-price-collusion
The Justice Department says it is investigating "possible unlawful coordination" by several major airline carriers.Wed, 01 Jul 2015 20:43:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77260 at http://weku.fmMilitants Stage Series Of Deadly Attacks In Egypt's Sinai Peninsulahttp://weku.fm/post/militants-stage-series-deadly-attacks-egypts-sinai-peninsula
Militants launched a number of deadly attacks on checkpoints in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula early Wednesday. A group linked to the so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility.<p>Merrit Kennedy filed this report from Cairo for Newscast:<p><blockquote><p>"In Egypt, militants launched a coordinated series of assaults in the restive north Sinai peninsula.Wed, 01 Jul 2015 20:28:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77263 at http://weku.fmSomebody Is Cutting Internet Cables In Californiahttp://weku.fm/post/somebody-cutting-internet-cables-california
The FBI is investigating a <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/sanfrancisco/press-releases/2015/fbi-and-local-law-enforcement-seek-publics-assistance-concerning-severed-fiber-optic-cables-in-the-east-bay-and-south-bay">string of recent physical attacks</a> on Internet cables in the San Francisco Bay Area.<p>The most recent occurred early Tuesday morning, <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/fbi-investigates-new-attack-on-internet-fiber-optic-cables-1435709881">reports The Wall Street Journal</a>, hitting "several cables in Livermore, Calif., shortly before 4:30 a.m.Wed, 01 Jul 2015 18:13:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77257 at http://weku.fmU.S., Cuba Formally Resume Diplomatic Relationshttp://weku.fm/post/us-cuba-formally-resume-diplomatic-relations
President Obama on Wednesday announced the formal resumption of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba after more than half a century of hostilities. The two countries have agreed to reopen embassies in Washington and Havana.<p>Standing in the White House Rose Garden, Obama called it "a historic step forward in our efforts to normalize relations with the Cuban government and people."<p>Obama said U.S.Wed, 01 Jul 2015 16:15:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77249 at http://weku.fmU.S., Cuba Formally Resume Diplomatic RelationsPrison Officials On Leave After New York Escapehttp://weku.fm/post/prison-officials-leave-after-new-york-escape
Twelve officials at an upstate New York prison have been placed on leave, as authorities investigate how two convicted killers managed to escape from the facility on June 6.<p>Among those placed on leave are Superintendent Steven Racette, of the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, and Deputy Superintendent Stephen Brown, according to multiple media accounts.<p>The reports say the surviving escapee David Sweat has been sharing details of the break out, including that he and inmate Richard Matt conducted a dry run the night before the escape.Tue, 30 Jun 2015 20:12:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77217 at http://weku.fmPrison Officials On Leave After New York EscapeDeadline In Iran Nuclear Talks Extended To July 7http://weku.fm/post/deadline-iran-nuclear-talks-extended-july-7
The Iran nuclear talks, which had been scheduled to wrap up Tuesday, have been extended. The U.S.Tue, 30 Jun 2015 18:34:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77203 at http://weku.fmDeadline In Iran Nuclear Talks Extended To July 7Chris Christie Declares His Candidacy For Presidenthttp://weku.fm/post/chris-christie-declares-his-candidacy-president
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whose political career has taken almost as many turns as a roulette wheel at an Atlantic City casino, is running for president.<p>He made the announcement Tuesday at Livingston High School, which he attended and where he was class president. Declaring "America is tired of hand-wringing and indecisiveness and weakness" in the White House, Christie said he is ready "to fight for the people of the United States of America."<p>Christie, 52, first came to prominence as a corruption-fighting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001.Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:45:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77193 at http://weku.fmChris Christie Declares His Candidacy For PresidentSupreme Court Blocks Obama Administration Plan On Power Plant Emissionshttp://weku.fm/post/supreme-court-blocks-obama-administration-plan-power-plant-emissions
<strong>Updated at 1:45 p.m. ET</strong><p>The Supreme court has ruled against an Obama administration effort to limit toxic mercury emissions from power plants, saying the costs of compliance should be taken into account at the very earliest stages of the regulatory process.<p>In a 5-4 decision, the court sided with industry and 23 states that challenged the Environmental Protection Agency over the rules for oil- and coal-fired utilities, which the EPA estimated would cost $9.6 billion annually.Mon, 29 Jun 2015 15:33:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77145 at http://weku.fmPolice Shoot, Kill Escaped New York Convicthttp://weku.fm/post/ny-prison-escapees-believed-headed-canada
<strong>Updated 11 p.m. ET</strong><p>Hundreds of officers are following leads on the possible whereabouts of escapee David Sweat, New York Gov.Fri, 26 Jun 2015 19:27:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor77063 at http://weku.fmPolice Shoot, Kill Escaped New York ConvictHaven't Found The Gown? The GSA Can Help With Thathttp://weku.fm/post/havent-found-gown-gsa-can-help
The government wants you to say yes to the dress.<p>It's auctioning off the contents of a bridal shop in Juneau, Alaska, that were seized by the U.S.Thu, 25 Jun 2015 18:19:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor76994 at http://weku.fmHaven't Found The Gown? The GSA Can Help With ThatObama Administration Acts To Ease Family Detentionshttp://weku.fm/post/obama-administration-acts-ease-family-detentions
The Department of Homeland Security says it is changing its family detention policies, but critics say the steps don't go far enough.<p><a href="http://www.dhs.gov/news/2015/06/24/statement-secretary-jeh-c-johnson-family-residential-centers">Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says</a> Immigration and Customs Enforcement will begin releasing families now being held at ICE facilities who are "successful in stating a case of credible or reasonable fear of persecution in their home countries."<p>The families will have to post a monetary bond or other condition of release.<p>Johnson also says Wed, 24 Jun 2015 23:04:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor76960 at http://weku.fmOPM Chief Again Grilled On Data Hackhttp://weku.fm/post/opm-chief-again-grilled-data-hack
The director of the Office of Personnel Management underwent another grilling Wednesday, this time from members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Katherine Archuleta sat for more than three hours as lawmakers questioned her competence and her estimates of how many government workers may have had their data breached in the hacking of OPM's computers discovered this spring.<p>NPR, along with other news organizations, has reported the hack may have exposed the personal data of more than 18 million current and former government workers.Wed, 24 Jun 2015 20:27:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor76952 at http://weku.fmOPM Chief Again Grilled On Data HackJust In Time For Summer: National Parks Hiking Entrance Feeshttp://weku.fm/post/just-time-summer-national-parks-hiking-entrance-fees
<strong>Updated at 4:45 p.m. ET</strong><p>Visiting a national park this summer?<p>Be prepared to pay more for the experience.Tue, 23 Jun 2015 20:50:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor76899 at http://weku.fmJust In Time For Summer: National Parks Hiking Entrance FeesSupreme Court Weighs In On Raisins, Spider-Man And Hotel Registrieshttp://weku.fm/post/supreme-court-weighs-raisins-spider-man-and-hotel-registries
We're still awaiting U.S. Supreme Court rulings on the two big blockbuster cases that have drawn attention this term: same-sex marriage and the Affordable Care Act. But the court did issue a number of decisions Monday in some lesser-known but interesting and important cases.<p>Here's a rundown:<p><strong>California Raisins: </strong><a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-275_c0n2.pdf">In this case</a>, California farmers Marvin and Laura Horne sued over a U.S.Mon, 22 Jun 2015 19:51:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor76840 at http://weku.fmObamacare Repeal Would Add Billions to Deficithttp://weku.fm/post/obamacare-repeal-would-add-billions-deficit
Congress' official scorekeeper says repealing Obamacare would increase the federal budget deficit and the number of uninsured Americans by 24 million.<p><a href="http://www.cbo.gov/publication/50252">The report from the Congressional Budget Office</a> comes as Washington awaits a ruling by the Supreme Court that could end insurance subsidies for some six million people in 30 states.<p>The report says repealing the Affordable Care Act's spending cuts and tax increases would add $137 billion to the deficit over the next ten years, and the number of people with health insurance would drop from 90Fri, 19 Jun 2015 22:29:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor76749 at http://weku.fmObamacare Repeal Would Add Billions to DeficitKansas City Royals Are Running The Bases In All-Star Game Ballotinghttp://weku.fm/post/kansas-city-royals-are-running-bases-all-star-game-balloting
Could it be a virtual stuffing of the ballot box?<p>Major League Baseball says it is invalidating more than 60 million online ballots for the upcoming All-Star Game, citing irregularities.<p>Baseball fans outside Kansas City have been watching with shock and some outrage as the voting has so far placed Royals players in eight of the nine American League starting positions for the July 14 game.<p>While some on the Royals are clearly the best or near the best at their positions and could be said to deserve the honor of starting, many are not.Fri, 19 Jun 2015 20:07:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor76741 at http://weku.fmKansas City Royals Are Running The Bases In All-Star Game BallotingBrazil Arrests Heads Of 2 Construction Giants In Petrobras Probehttp://weku.fm/post/brazil-arrests-heads-2-construction-giants-petrobras-probe
Police in Brazil have arrested the leaders of the nation's two largest engineering and construction companies. Marcelo Odebrecht, head of Odebrecht SA, and Otavio Marques Azevedo, head of Andrade Gutierrez, were taken into custody in Friday morning raids linked to a scandal involving Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras.<p>As NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports for Newscast:<p><blockquote><p>"It's really hard to explain just how omnipresent Odebrecht is in Brazil, and Latin America generally.Fri, 19 Jun 2015 17:32:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor76734 at http://weku.fmBrazil Arrests Heads Of 2 Construction Giants In Petrobras ProbeCongress Breathes Life Into President's Fast-Track Trade Planhttp://weku.fm/post/congress-breathes-life-presidents-fast-track-trade-plan
President Obama's "fast-track" trade proposal, written off by many last week, got a key boost in the House on Thursday when lawmakers voted 218-208 to approve the measure.<p>The bill now moves back to the Senate, where a vote is expected next week.<p>The fast-track measure would enable the President to send to Congress, for an up or down vote, a trade deal with Pacific rim nations called the Trans-Pacific Partnership.<p>Last week, House Democrats joined with a handful of Republicans to defeat a measure that the fast-track authority was tied to, casting doubts on the future of the overall tradeThu, 18 Jun 2015 19:21:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor76689 at http://weku.fmSlain Charleston Church Pastor Heard Calling At Early Agehttp://weku.fm/post/slain-charleston-church-pastor-heard-calling-early-age
Among the nine victims of <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/18/415402764/police-search-for-man-suspected-of-killing-9-at-s-c-church">Wednesday's shooting</a> at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. was its pastor, Clementa Pinckney, who was also a was also a Democratic state senator.Thu, 18 Jun 2015 16:24:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor76673 at http://weku.fmSlain Charleston Church Pastor Heard Calling At Early AgeJeb Bush Makes It Official: He's Runninghttp://weku.fm/post/jeb-bush-makes-it-official-hes-running
Jeb Bush formally declared his candidacy for the White House on Monday.<p>"Our country is on a very bad course. And the question is: What are we going to do about it? The question for me is: What am I going to do about it? And I have decided — I am a candidate for president of the United States," Bush said during a rally at Miami Dade College's Kendall campus.<p>With that announcement, the former Florida governor becomes the 11th major Republican candidate seeking the party's presidential nomination.<p>John Ellis Bush, better known as Jeb, is the second son of former President George H.W.Mon, 15 Jun 2015 20:28:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor76538 at http://weku.fmJeb Bush Makes It Official: He's RunningIRS Announces Effort To Fight Fraudulent Tax Returnshttp://weku.fm/post/irs-announces-effort-fight-fraudulent-tax-returns
The Internal Revenue Service, hoping to reduce the number of fraudulent tax returns filed each year, says it's partnering with several tax preparation and software firms in an effort to protect taxpayers.<p>The initiative, announced by IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, will include steps the IRS believes will better authenticate the identity of taxpayers and the information included on tax return submissions.<p>Last month the IRS acknowledged that hackers had stolen personal information, including back tax data, of some 104,000 taxpayers.Thu, 11 Jun 2015 23:07:00 +0000NPR: Brian Naylor76398 at http://weku.fm